Coupler-operating device



July 13 1926.

.J. J. TATUM COUPLER OPERATING DEVICE Filed Feb. 28, 1925 61 Ho: no t;

Patented July 13, 1926.

UNITED ST..'tS

JOHN J. TATUIVI, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

COUPLER-OPERATING DEVICE.

Application filed February 28, 1,923.

My inven ion relates to coupler operating devices.

Among the objects of my invention are To produce a coupler operating device comprising a link which shall be capable of providing sufficient flexibility to permit of the relative movements of the end of the operating lever with reference to the coupler lock and of the latter with reference to the operating lever.

To produce a link for use in a coupler operating devic which shall be simple, cheap, capable of easy attachment and so arranged as to be subject to no stresses other than those required to oper te a coupler lock whereby the life of my improved link is greatly extended.

To produce a link for use in a coupler operating device which shall be capable of easy attachment, easy replacement and so formed that great strength is obtained with a minimum amount of material.

To provide a link having the aforegoing characteristics otherwise so arranged that should deformation due to excessive strain occur, part of the link will cooperate with the operating lever therefor to resist further deformation.

These and further objects of 11y invention will be made apparent in the following specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and the means by which said objects are effectuated will be definitely pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings Figure 1 is an elevation of a car body equipped with a coupler and showing my improved operating device applied thereto.

Fig. 2 is a view of the parts shown in 1 looking in the direction of the arrow 2 in said figure, the coupler lock being in the locked position.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2. the coupler lock being in the unlocked position.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail view of my improved link when viewed in the same direction as in Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a view of the link shown in Fig. 4 when viewed in the direction of the arrow 5 in said figure.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged view of the end of the coupler operating lever when viewed the direction of the arrow 6 in Fig. 2. In this view the coupler operating link is tion.

Serial No. 621,871.

ures is as arranged for old cars. In Figs. 7, 8 and 9 are shown the relative arrangements of the eye 17 and link 18 in newly constructed cars.

In the drawings 10 represents the end of a car body to which any usual or approved form of coupler 11 is secured; said coupler is mounted upon the car body so as to be capable of motion either towards the right or left when viewed as in Fig. 1, which motions occur when the car is moved from a straight to a curved track. The coupler also has the usual longitudinal motion.

The coupler is provided with any usual or approved lock such as 12. The lock 12 may have a simple lifting motion, or it may require, in addition thereto, a turning movement, but whatever movement said lock requires, it is the function of my improved operating device to produce said movements without undue strain upon the parts.

Brackets 1313 are fixed upon the car and said brackets have hearings in which is revolubly mounted the shaft portion 14 of my improved operating lever, which also includes the handle 15 and the arm 16, the latter terminating in the elongated eye 17.

The link 18 shown in Fig. t has a curved portion 19 which is mounted in a hole formed in the top of the coupler lock 12 so that said link will have universal angular movement with reference to said lock. Said link also comprises the parallel limbs 20 and 21, the former extending upwardly through the eye 17, then in a curve 22 over the top of said eye, then downwardly in line with the limb 21 and then bent towards the limb 20 to form the end for a purpose hereinafter explained.

The limb 21 extends upwardly outside the eye 17, then in a curve 2 1 over the top of said eye, then downwardly through said eye in line with the limb 20, and then bent away from the limb 20 to form the end 25 for a purpose hereinafter explained.

The operation of my improved coupler operating device is as follows The parts being in the positions shown in Figs. 1 and 2, on account of the freedom of angular movement between the lock 12 and the link it is evident that the coupler 11 may move either towards the right or left without producing any stresses upon the link 13. it is also e ident that durin this motion tae link has free angular and free sliding movement with reference to the eye 17.

For similar reasons, it is also evident by an inspection of Fig. 3 that movement of the coupler 11 in the direction of its length, due to the compression or expansion of the usual springs forming part of said coupler, will not produce any undue stress upon the link 18.

hen the lock 12 is to be operated to unlock the coupler 11. the operator moves the handle 15. This raises the eye 17 and said eye, contacting with the portions 22 and 24 of the link 18, raises the lock 12 and unlocks the coupler.

It is to be noted that if the lock 12 is of such character that it has a limited angular movement during its vertical movement, said movement is provided for by reason of the ability of the limbs 20 and 21 to move angularly with reference to the eye 17.

It is also to be noted that as the eye 17 moves in the arc of a circle while being lifted, this produces no stress upon the link 18 on account of the free angular movement of the link 18 with reference to the eye 17 and lock 12, as before explained.

It is also to be noted that the two curved portions 22 and 24 of the link 18 in operative engagement with the eye 17 are the same cross section as the rest of said link. As a consequence of this construction, a maximum of strength is obtained in the link 18 by the use of any given amount of metal.

Additional resisting powers are also given the link 18 by reason of the fact that should the curved portions 22 and 24 commence to yield under excessive stress, the end 25 will contact with the eye 17 and furnish additional force to resist said stress.

It is also to be noted that the ends 23 and 25 will co-act with the eye 17 to force the lock 12 into locked position. if necessary.

The foregoing refers to the arrangement of parts on old cars on which the position of the arm 16 is fixed, but when new cars are constructed, the arm 16 is to be so positioned with reference to the link 18 that one side of the eye 17, during the upward movement of the arm 16, makes contact first with the under side of the curve 22, then also with the under side of the overlapping curve 24 and finally with the latter side alone. Thus I provide two wearing points on the eye 17 for the link 18 and greatly reduce the wear upon both.

It is to be noted that on new cars the ends and 25 may be omitted because (see Fig. if the curve 2% should strain slightly the 23 eye 17 will then obtain a bearing on the curve 22 also and thus a reserve of strength is provided.

Vfhile I have shown one embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that this is for purposes of illustration only and in nowise to limit the scope thereof, for changes may be made in the structure shown and described without departing from the spirit of my invention.

1 claim 1. In a coupler operating device. the combination with a coupler comprising a knuckle lock having a hole thercthroi 'h and an operating lever for said lock terminating in an elongated eye, of a closed elongated link formed of a metallic rod and having the portion between the two limbs passed through said hole, one of said limbs being mssed through said eye, then bent over the top of said eye and laving its end bent to project into the path of said eye, and the other of said limbs being on the outside oi said eye and then bent over the top of said eye and having its end bent to project into the path of said eye.

In a coupler operating device. a link for operatively connecting the coupler knuckle lock to the operating lever, composed of two limbs formed integrally with a portion joining said limbs together. the end portions of said limbs being bent to reverse curves to close saidlink and the ends of said bent portions being bent at substantially right angles to said limbs and in the same direction.

In a coupler operating device, the combination with a coupler con'iprising a knuckle lock and an operating lever for said lock having an arm terminating in an elongated eye located over said lock, of a closed link operatively connecting said lock and eye and an end on said link bent to projectinto the path of said eye for engagement therewith, said end being disposed relatively close to said eye.

4. In a coupler operating device, the combination with a coupler comprising a knuckle lock and an operating lever for said lock terminating in an eye, of a closed link connecting said lock and eye, said link having ends uniform in cross section with the rest of said link bent in overlapping curves over one side of said eye, the planes of said eye and link being angularly disposed relative to each other, whereby during the upward movement of said eye. said curved ends alternately engage with said side.

In testimony whereof, I atlix my signature.

JOHN J. TATUM. 

